Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in talks with Hon. Judge Theodor Meron, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRM), today when the Judge paid a courtesy call to the Minister's office in Dar es Salaam.

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in talks with the six member delegation from the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRM), that visited him today in his office.The delegation included Judge Theodor Meron, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRM), Hon. Judge John Hocking, Registrar of the IRM and Hon. Hassan Bubacar Jallow, the Prosecutor of the IRM.

Tanzania pledges to pursue Genocide Fugitives

Hon. Judge Theodor Meron, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRM), paid courtesy call to Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation today in his office, following his recent appointment as IRM President.

Hon. Meron was accompanied by Hon. Judge John Hocking, Registrar of the IRM and Hon. Hassan Bubacar Jallow, the Prosecutor of the IRM.

Judge Meron thanked Tanzania for once again accepting to host the International Criminal Tribunal and hoped that Tanzania would sustain the same level of cooperation as it had existed during the lifetime of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

He also thanked Tanzania for granting land for construction of the purpose-built facility for both the IRM premises and ICTR archives.

The delegation also asked the Government to assist in pursuing nine remained fugitives remained at large within the East and Southern African Regions.

On his part, Hon. Membe thanked the delegation for the visit, and for the interactive exchange regarding IRM.He also expressed apologies on behalf of the President for not being able to meet the delegation as it was planned.

Hon. Membe informed the delegation that President Jakaya Kikwete expressed readiness to meet the delegation in the near future.

With regard to the issue of land offered to the IRM, the Minister expressed his enthusiasm on the fact the United Nations (UN) has confirmed its desire to take up the offer of the land allocated to the IRM.

Hon. Membe assured the delegation that the Government will facilitate the logistical requirements towards the construction of the facility.

He also assured the delegation that Tanzania will do all it can to support the IRM in apprehension of the said nine fugitives.

The IRM was established by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1966 (2010) to finish the work begun by the ICTR and International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The IRM has two branches corresponding to the two current tribunals.The Arusha branch is scheduled to start on July 1, 2012 while the Hague branch is scheduled to start on July 1, 2013.